Rajasthan Budget: Architecture and Process

Constitutional and Legislative Framework

The State Budget is the government's annual financial statement, mandated under Article 202 of the Constitution of India. Formally titled the Annual Financial Statement, it presents estimated receipts and expenditure for the coming financial year (April 1 to March 31). In Rajasthan, the budget is presented by the Deputy Chief Minister / Finance Minister in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.

Budget Process Steps

The budget process in Rajasthan follows a defined sequence:

• Demand Estimation: Departments submit budget proposals to the Finance Department (September–October)
• Pre-Budget Consultation: Finance Department reviews departmental demands with Principal Secretaries (October–December)
• Budget Finalisation: Finance Minister finalises allocation priorities (December–January)
• Budget Presentation: Presented in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly in February; the 2025-26 budget was presented by Deputy Chief Minister (Finance) Diya Kumari on 19 February 2025
• Appropriation Act: Passed by the Assembly; authorises expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of Rajasthan
• Vote on Account: If budget is not passed before April 1, a vote on account provides interim authorization (typically for 2-3 months of expenditure)

Types of Budget Presented

Rajasthan presents multiple budget documents:

Document	Purpose
Main Budget (Original)	Full-year estimates for all departments
Supplementary Demands	Mid-year additional requirements
Revised Estimates (RE)	Updated projections after 6 months
Modified Schematic Budget	Revised capital/scheme allocations
Economic Survey of Rajasthan	Pre-budget economic overview

Source: Finance Department, Government of Rajasthan; Rajasthan Economic Review 2025-26

The Schematic Budget covers planned development expenditure — capital works, new schemes, and centrally sponsored schemes. The Modified Schematic Budget 2024-25 was ₹2,09,633.99 crore, revised upward from the original outlay.

Budget Size: Historical Growth

Year	Approved Schematic Outlay (₹ crore)	Actual Expenditure (₹ crore)	Utilisation %
2017-18	81,158	78,117	96.3%
2018-19	1,07,865	99,743	92.5%
2019-20	1,16,736	1,03,531	88.7%
2020-21	1,10,201	1,01,872	92.4%
2021-22	1,32,251	1,37,764	104.2%
2022-23	1,69,656	1,41,925	83.7%
2023-24	1,84,312	1,58,714	86.1%
2024-25 (Modified)	2,09,634	1,31,072 (up to Dec 2024)	—

Source: Rajasthan Economic Review 2025-26, Chapter 1 — Review of Schematic Budget

The budget has grown 2.58 times from ₹81,158 crore (2017-18) to ₹2,09,634 crore (2024-25 Modified) — a CAGR of approximately 13% over seven years. Utilisation rates below 90% in recent years signal an implementation capacity gap, particularly in capital expenditure.

---